Cain is Able to speak

Le Guin's 'The World for World is Forest' ends in a remarkably interesting way; Selver, after having led a rebellion against the Terran invaders and gained recognition and protection from an intergalactic government, remains pessimistic about his race's future. He says at the close of the novel, "'Maybe after I die maybe people will be as they were before I was born, and before you came. But I do not think they will.'" His shortness with the more than reasonable Leppanon who had just assured him retribution for the wrongdoings inflicted upon his people highlights the fear rooted in Selver's speech. This is evidence that Selver had encountered a new concept for the Ashtheans that is familiar to the Terrans, terror. He knows that dreams live on after in dreams and in language. He fears that his people have learned the dream and word for murder and can do it but have not yet felt grief as Selver had. This indicates that the core concepts of humanity which are impressed upon these innocent Eden dwelling creatures are murder, grief, and terror. This is somewhat reminiscent of the story of Cain and Able where Cain commits murder and after having been punished by God feels grief for his actions and in turn fears god and experiences terror.